Review: Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception

Who would have thought back in 2007 the Uncharted franchise would turn into the monster it is today. At the time many thought it was a Tomb Raider clone, featuring a male lead character. Fast forward four years and we can now say Uncharted is without a doubt going in a direction the Tomb Raider franchise only dreamed of. Fast paced action, riveting story, Uncharted 3: Drakes’s Deception has a lot going for it. But can it possibly lead to the hype built-up by Sony and Naughty Dog?

Nathan Drake is still following in the footsteps of his ancestor Sir Francis Drake. This time he is traveling the globe in search of a legendary lost city, the Iram of the Pillars, the so-called Atlantis of the sands. Drake had apparently discovered the city 400 years earlier but for some unknown reason abandoned his quest and hid his trail. Nathan Drake is determined to find the city and uncover the lost treasure.

Gameplay will feel quite familiar with fans of the series. Expect plenty of running and jumping through the environment, puzzle solving and some good ol’ fashioned hand-to-hand combat.

Most of the time you’ll want to carry a gun, but when the going gets tough in tight quarters Drake will have to resort to his fists. Hand-to-hand combat never get old thanks to the addition of quick time events. When you need to dodge a punch or wrestle out of a tight grip symbols will briefly appear on the lower right hand side of the screen. Hit the corresponding button too late and you’ll take damage. Hit it at the right time and the fight will continue on like a fine ballet with Nathan pulling off some fancy footwork to avoid the blow. Fights can vary depending on the environment. If Drake happens to be fighting thugs near a table, he doesn’t hesitate to grab bottles of maybe a wrench off the table and hit the enemy over the head. You never know what to expect.

Much of the game plays out like a Hollywood movie. The action is intense, keeping gamers on their toes thanks to the ever-changing environment. Platforms collapse, rocks ledges become loose and railings often break sending our hero to what should be his doom. Yet, Drake always seems to catch himself at the last second. Moments after you pull yourself back up it happens all over again. In one level you find yourself inside a burning building where the floor continuously gives way to the flames. You’re always looking for something to grab onto or jump to in order to save yourself from the searing heat. Towards the end of the game you almost expect every ledge you jump to to give way from your weight, but that’s the formula which has helped Uncharted become so successful.

All of the familiar actors are back to reprise their roles in the game. I say actors because not only did they lend their voice to the game, but their actions as well. The actors all took part in lengthy motion capture sessions to ensure character movements within the game looked realistic. Nolan North who plays Drake told me during an interview how he spent hours climbing blankets to mimic shifting sand in a motion capture studio. The hard work paid off. Movements are fluid and probably the most realistic you’ll find in any action game on store shelves today.

As I played through the  game one thing kept coming to mind. It had to do with the enemies. I had to question why all the enemies were dressed the same. Either they’re sporting black suits or plaid jackets. All the goons must have an expense account at the same store because you run into the same dressed foes time and time again. Strange for a game with such high production value.

Uncharted 3 feels like the pinnacle of the series. There is so much to enjoy in this title. The action, the graphics and the music are all simply stunning. Then there’s the story. A story you can really get into. Yes, the gameplay can become a bit predictive and the enemies may be repetitive but the bottom line is you’ll feel like you’ve just played through a major motion picture. Not many games have you smiling as you complete a level and Uncharted 3 does that time and time again. Congratulations Naughty Dog on what could very well be the best Playstation game of the year.

The Good

Elegant fighting style
Stunning cut scenes
Excellent level design
Dramatic story

The Bad

Why are all the enemies all dressed the same?